Circuit-connector.



H. mnouema, cmcun CONNECTOR. APPLICATION FILED APR. 17, l9l6.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

i. To ol l 'wfi om at may concern: 513e, it kuown that I, HARRY A. DOUGLAS,

citizen of the .United States, residing at Bronson, ,in the county of Branch and State .a-ndguseful xnprovement in Circuit-Connectors, of which the following is a full, 1 concise, and exact description, referce being had to the accompanying draw- 7 10 forming a part of this specification. i 4 y imiention relates to connectors employing shellsadapted for coupling engage- Jnent, with contact carriers at their ends and 1 which shells inclose contacts intervening be-' 115. Weenthe aforesaid contactcarriers, the in- "vention having for its object an improved inter-relation of these-intervening contacts .yvith the'end contacts" and an improvement In the construction of the intermediate contact carriers to'improve the facility for the j assembly thereof with the contacts carried hereb My invention in one of its characteristics 1s a connector including a shell, outer contact carriers being adjustable to different positions with respect to the shell to open and "close circuit, an inner contact carrierwithin SOcarrierS, a pair of contacts carried by the" innercontact carrier and which are engageable with each other andseparable respecmitted by this contact carrier and permit tingsaid.adjustable'outer contact carrier to eiiect engagementbetween the contacts car- 7 fried-"by: the innerjcarrler when this outer lw contact carrier-1s in its c rcuit closing posi-.

11:5: -The-carrier of my invention includes a carrying portibn having an opening therein,

a" contact projecting fr m sa d. carrier.

,Michiganihave invented a-certain new carriersin the ends of the shell, one of these lieshell and between the aforesaid contact ively to close andopen "circuit, one of these- 'j irEn sTArrns manna ormcn.

rases. nonems, or BRONSON, mcmean, .ASS NQR'T MI -Gil es 8v RUDD -;fo o., or BnoNsoN, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 01 M N.

CIRCUIT-CONNECTOR through said opening, and spring means for thrusting said contact outwardly, the carrier and contact having interengagement to limit the extent to which the contact may be outwardly thrust -said carrier being formed in sections in adyacent portions of which adja- "cent parts of said opening are formed to permit the contact to be laid in position.

Furthermore my invention includes the provision of a contact carrier formed in sections having interfitting portions, the sections being movable into and out of assembled relation by direct bodily movement toward and away from each other, said interfitting portions serving to hold the sections against relative movement in predetermined directions when assembled. In addition the shell containing the contact carrier is so constructed as to positively maintain the sections of the carrier in place when said sections are assembled in the shell,

I'will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawing showing two embodiments thereof and in a which Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partially in section, of a connector made in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 shows arts appearing in Fig. 1 some being in diferent adjustment; Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a component part; Fig. 4: illustrates a detail. of construction-;,Fig. 5 is a view on Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 14, 1917.

Application filed. April 17, 1915. Serial No. 81,549.

line 5 5 of Fig. 1; Fig: 6 1s a view of another embodiment of the invention, partially in elevation and partially in'section; Fig. 7 illustrates a detail of constructidn, an inclosing shell/being shown in section; and Fig. 8 is a view on line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Like parts are indicated by similar char-.

actors of reference throughout the different figures.

Referring first tothe form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to5 inclusive, there is there shown a metallic shell 1 inclosing a contact carrier 2 of insulating material, this contact carrier being centrally disposed when the, shell is employed and constructed to couple the lamp 3 and a plug 4 or other outer contact carriers.v though the invention is not to be limited. to this form of connector.

W hen constructed for this purpose the shell desirably has bayonet slots at each end, the

bayonet slots 5 one end being adapted to desirably having only one relative position with respect to the shell when the lamp and the shell are coupled. These bayonet slots and pins constitute coupling formations. The bayonet slots at the other end of the shell are provided with two seats 7 and 8 (constituting couplingformations) that are separated longitudinally of the shell where by the bayonet pins 9 (also constituting coupling formations) may be interengaged with the shell at different places longitudinally thereof for the purpose of holding the plug 4 in assembly with the shell while the plug is either in its inner or outer position, the arrangement being such that when the plug is in its innermost position it will be included in circuit and when it is in its outer position it will be excluded from circuit. While the plug illustrated merely serves as a contact terminal carrier for the conducting wires 10 and 11 leading thereto from a suitable source of current, the invention is not to be limited to a plu that is employed for this purpose. The arm of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive is a socalled single pole connector, the lamp 3 having a metallic sheath 12 connected with one terminal of the lamp filament 13 whose other terminal is connected with the central contact 16 upon the inner end of the lamp base. The lamp filament is included in circuit by way of the metallic shell 1 and the sheath 12 and also the metallic pins 6 connected with this sheath. The plug 4 also has a metallic sheath 17 connected with the conductor 11, the conductor 10 being connected with the central contact 18 upon the inner end of the plug. The inner contact carrier 2 carries two spring pressed cylindrical or tubular contacts 19 and 20, between which a coiled spring 21 is disposed to spread these con tacts apart to maintain the contact 19 in engagement with the contact 16 and the contact 20 in engagement with the contact 18, the latter engagement being maintained whether the lug 4 is in its mner position (when the circuit is closed) or is in its outer position (when the circuit is opened). The spring 21 thus not only operates to spread the contacts 19 and 20 apart to open the circuit when the contact carrier 4 is placed in its outer position but also exerts outward pressure upon the outer contact carriers. The contact 19 is extended longitudinally and is enlarged at its inner end where it is slotted as indicated at 22 to form contacting spring fingers 23. The inner end of the contact 20 is also desirably enlarged but is maintained sufliciently small to enable it to enter the adjacent end of the contact 19 there to li ave engagement with the spring fingers 23, this result occurring when the bayonet ins 9 are in the inner seats 7. The opening throu h the inner contact car rier that receives t e contacts 19 and 24 is reduced at its outer ends whereby the extent to which the contacts 19 and 20 may be spread apart while within the carrier in limited. the outer seats 8 the spring 21 will e'ect the contact 20 from the bore of the tubul ar contact 19, this spring continuing to maintain engagement between the contacts 18 and 20 when the plug 4 'is in its outer osition to maintain the plug 4 and the shel 1 in mechanical assembly after the circuit is broken consequent'upon the separation of the contacts 19 and 20. As the sprin 21 isipetallic it is provided with a cup-s aped seat 24 of insulation so that the spring cannot act as a conductor, a necessity when the plug is When these bayonet ms are in.

in its outermost position. The contact our rier is made up of two semi-circular-blocks whose diametrical faces have interlocking engagement. The preferred form of inter locking engagement is procured by means of two radially directed semi-cylindrical beads 25 one projecting from the diametrical face of each semi-circular block and entering a similarly shaped recess in the diametrical face of the opposing block, these diametrical faces being disposed where the elements 19, 20 and 21 are located to. permit of the ready assembly of these elements with their carrier.

The construction shown in Figs. 6, 7 and .8 has parts which are similar in function to parts of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. The parts ofthe structure shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive which are generally similar in function to correspondmg parts shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive are given similar characters of reference with the addition of prime exponents. The connector shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive is a so-called,

double pole connector and in such case the lam base is provided with end contacts 26, 27 constituting terminals of the filament 13) while the plug is provided with end contacts 28, 29 (constituting terminals of conductors 10, 11). The contacts 30 and 31 are adapted for engagement respectively with the contacts 26 tacts 32 and 33 are adapted for engagement respectively with the contacts 28 and 29. A spring 34 is interposed between the contacts 30 and 32 to maintain them respectively in engagement with the contacts 26 and 28 when the circuit is closed. A sprin 35 is interposed between the contacts 31 and 33 to maintain them respectively in engageand 27 while the con-' insects 34 and 35 will press the contacts 32'and 33' upon the insulation surrounding the contacts 28 and 29. Instead'of dividing the contact'carrier 2 longitudinally of the shell two disks. Each .;jec.ti'on entering a correspondingly 25,25 ponent l I divide it transversely ofsuch shell into p shaped. recess in-the other'disk.

In both-forms of construction illustrated riers in sections the assembly therewith of thecontacts'carried thereby may very readily be effected, since the component parts :of

bayonet slots in are desirably rigidly Shells either by tight the; inner carrier meet at the center of the contact receiving opening in the carrier wherebythe contacts and their spreading go springs may readily be laid in the part or parts ofthe opening when such component partseare separated. The contact carriers secured ,within the driving fit or by means .of inturned cars such as indicatedat 37in "Fi 1. i ;%V hile I have herein shown and particularly. described. two embodiments of my invention I 'do. not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat- .ent the -following: v

A connector including a shell having the ends thereof, the slot at one endhaving two bayonet pin receiving seats separated longitudinally of the shell; outer,contact carriers in the ends ofv the shell, these contact carriers having bayonet pins receivable in the adjacent bayonet slots in the .shell, the outer contact carrier couplediwith the end of the shell whose bayonet slot has two bayonet pin receiving seats .beingiadjustable longitudinally of the shell 1nto;-inne r and outer positions for respectivelyfclosing and opening circuit; an nner contact carrier-within the shell and between the "aforesaid contact carriers; a pair of contacts carried by the inner Contact carrier and which are engageable with each other and separable respectively to close and open circuit, one of these contacts being engageable with a contact upon the longitudinally-ad-' jnstable outer contact carrier and the other ji-ng the outwar of these contacts being engageable with a contact u'pon'the other of the outer contact carriers, said longitudinally adjustable outer contact carrier, inboth of its positions, limitmovement of the adjacent contact uponthe spring for separating the contactscarried by t e inner contact carrier when said-longitudidisk carries a radial pro-v inner contact carrier; and a outer contact carrier in its 011m position and to 'the extent permitted by this contact earner, then to open circuit, and permitting said longitudinally adjustable outer contact carrier to efi'ect en= gageinent between the contacts carried by '70 the inner carrier when this outer contact carrier is in its inner position, to close cira different positions with respect to the shell H to open and close circuit; an inner contact carrier within the shell and. between the aforesaid-contact carriers; a pair of contacts carried by the inner andwhich are engageable with each other contact carrier and separable respectively to'close and open circuit, one of able, with a contact upon the adjusta'le these contacts being enga e outer contact carrier and the ether of these contacts being en ageable with a contact;-

upon the other of t of its positions, limiting the outward more contact upon the inner contact carrier; and a spring for separatin the contacts carried by the inner cont-ac carrier when said adjustable outer contact carrier is in circuit opening position and to the extent permitted by this contact carrier, and permitting said tact carrier to efiect engagement between the contacts carried by the inner carr er when this outer contact carrier is in its circuit closing position. Y 3.'A contact carrier formed of sections and having an opening therethrough lo cated partially in each section thereof, contacts in said opening movable into and out ment of the adjacent of engagement to close and open a circuit,

gagement to close and open a circuit,means e outer contact carriers, said adjustable outer contact carriexgm both" Y adjustable outer con- 1 ,113 in each section thereof, contacts" constantlytending to move the contacts out of engagement, and means forlimiting the circuit opening movements ofthe contacts.-

5.A contact carrier comprising avpair of interfitting sections movable into and out of assembled relation by rier formed of a pair of interfitting sections direct bodily movement toward and away from each other, a,

movable into and out of assembled relation by direct bodily movement toward and away fromeach other and having an opening therein located partially in each section, a

contact movably mounted in the opening,

means constantly tending to thrust said contact outwardly, and a shell receiving the carrier sections and coacting therewith to positively hold said sections in assembled relation.

7. A connectorcomprising a contact carrier formed of a pair of interfitting sections movable into and out of assembled relation by direct bodily movement toward and away from each other and having an opening therein located partially in each section, a Contact mo\'ahl mounted in, the opening and having intcrengagement with a section of the carrier to limit outward movement of the contact, means constantly tending to thrust said contact ouhvardly, and a shell receiving ihc carrier sections and coacting therewith to positively hold said sections in assembled relation. 2o"

8. A connector comprising a shell, :1 Contact carrier within the shell formed of sections, means on the shell engaging the ends of the sections to hold the latter in assembled relation within the shell, and a contact mounted in the carrier.

9. A connector comprising a shell, a contact carrier within the shell formed of sections having interfitting portions whereby said sections are held against relative movement in predetermined directions, means on the shell engaging the ends of the sections to hold the latter in assembled relation Within the shell, and a contact mounted in the carrier.

10. A connector comprising a shell, a contact carrier within the shell formed of sections, tongues struck from the shell and engaging the ends of the sections to hold the latter in assembled relation within the shell, and a contact mounted in the carrier.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 7th day of April, A. D. 1916.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. Witnesses:

HENRY C. Bowman, WILL M. Fos'rnn. 

